Philippines plans to place Imelda jewels on display

MANILA -- The Philippines said Thursday it planned to soon put on public display jewels seized 26 years ago from former first lady Imelda Marcos, hoping they will be a tourist draw.

The collection, worth at least US$8 million, have sat in a bank vault for decades after being seized as part of assets allegedly plundered by the Marcos family before it fled to U.S. exile in 1986, after 20 years in power.

The government plans to ultimately auction them off after putting them on display, said Maita Gonzaga, a senior official at the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

“They can attract tourists, (and) also (show) that there are certain lessons of the past that should not be forgotten. These are actual tangible evidence of plunder,” Gonzaga told AFP.